Lesbian & Gay Vienna

Vienna's lesbian and gay scene is pretty limited for your average Western European capital. However, in the 1990s, it enjoyed something of a blossoming, best symbolized by the establishment of an annual pride event, Regenbodenparade (Rainbow Parade; www.pride.at ), held in June. Nevertheless, there are only the merest handful of gay bars and clubs, scattered across the city, with a cluster in the "gay district" around Naschmarkt. The social and political heart of the gay community is focused on the Rosa-Lila Villa , 6, Linke Wienzeile 102 (U-Bahn Pilgramgasse), which proudly flies the rainbow flag and proclaims itself as a Lesben und Schwulen Haus.

The best gay clubs are often the one-nighters like the mixed gay/lesbian Heaven, every Thursday at U4 , 12, Schönbrunner Strasse 222. In addition, check out the following:

Café Savoy, 6, Linke Wienzeile 36; U-Bahn Kettenbrückengasse. Even more than the Berg, this scruffy fin-de-siècle café is by no means exclusively gay, but things pick up in the evening (for men at least). Mon-Fri 5pm-2am, Sat 9am-2am.

Café Willendorf, 6, Linke Wienzeile 102; U-Bahn Pilgramgasse. Café-restaurant inside the Rosa-Lila Villa, with a nice leafy courtyard. Another good place to pick up information about events. Daily 6pm-2am.